Gaza message from President Erdoğan: Massacres amounting to genocide

President Erdoğan noted the following in his message:

I congratulate the 78th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) Organization, of which we are a founding member, and I would like to thank everyone who works under the umbrella of the UN to establish peace, prosperity, justice and tranquility in our world, on behalf of my country and nation.

As humanity, we are faced with very serious problems in a wide range of areas, from hot conflicts, especially in Palestine and Ukraine, to climate change, from hunger and poverty to hostility towards Islam.

MASSACRES REACHING THE GRADE OF GENOCIDE
Especially since October 7, massacres reaching the level of genocide have been taking place in Gaza, targeting civilian settlements, places of worship, hospitals and schools. Unfortunately, the international community cannot provide a good test in the face of the Israeli administration’s unlawful and borderless attacks against civilians.

ANOTHER UN AGENCY IS CAUSING THE GREATEST DAMAGE TO THE UN’S REPUTATION.

We see that the United Nations Security Council, instead of stopping the bloodshed, establishing a ceasefire as soon as possible, and taking steps to prevent civilian casualties, is further deepening the crisis with its unilateral attitude. Of course, it is not possible for a structure that watches the total punishment of the people of Gaza to provide hope for humanity and ensure global peace and stability. UN-affiliated institutions, especially the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), are being rendered dysfunctional by the UN Security Council itself. Yet another UN institution is causing the greatest damage to the UN’s reputation.

However, we remain a strong supporter and defender of the values ​​represented by the UN and the principle of multilateralism, which is at the center of the rules-based global system. While we are among the top 20 countries that contribute the most to the UN general budget, we are also taking important steps towards making Istanbul a UN headquarters, and we host the regional centers of various UN organizations and agencies in Istanbul.

MEDIATION FOR PEACE AND ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS INITIATIVES

We continue our leadership in Mediation for Peace and Alliance of Civilizations initiatives carried out under the umbrella of the UN, contribute to peacekeeping operations, and support the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda with our various activities, especially our hosting of the UN Technology Bank established in Gebze.

In this direction, we took the Zero Waste Movement to a global level with the decision adopted at the United Nations, co-hosted by 105 countries. Thanks to the Black Sea Initiative that we initiated together with the United Nations, we ensured that 33 million tons of grain products were shipped to world markets, thus preventing the danger of a global hunger crisis. We ensured that March 15 was declared “International Day Against Islamophobia” at the UN General Assembly to raise global awareness in the fight against xenophobia, cultural racism and Islamophobia. We have taken many other steps that strengthen the global role of the UN and contribute to peace and stability.

COMMON AND JUSTIFIED EXPECTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

However, the developments we have encountered recently have reminded us once again of the need for reform of the United Nations. It is the common and justified expectation of the international community that the UN Security Council be freed from the domination of a limited number of countries and made more representative, democratic and effective. With the understanding of “The World is Bigger than Five”, Turkey will continue to contribute to the work to be done towards the establishment of a more just world order.

With these thoughts, I congratulate the 24 October United Nations Day with my most heartfelt feelings and hope that the 78th anniversary of the organization will be beneficial.